We are a member congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and as such, believe that the Sacrament of the Altar (the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion) is intended for baptized, prepared Christians. Lutherans believe, teach, and confess that this Holy Supper was instituted by Christ Himself and that His body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine and are received not only spiritually by faith, but also bodily, for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-29), because we take seriously the spiritual care of those approaching our altar, and because communion at Zion Lutheran Church is a public confession of what our congregation teaches and believes, we ask that those not yet instructed, in doubt, or belonging to another church body or denomination not in fellowship with the LCMS please speak with our pastor about our church body’s practice of close communion. ​​

BAPTISM

I. Baptism is a Sacrament of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, commanded by our Lord. Members of Zion Lutheran Church (ZLC) are expected to bring their children before the altar to be baptized in the name of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19) in a worship service as soon as possible after birth. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-Baptism class with the pastor and are expected to schedule the baptism in advance. Children of parents who are not members may be baptized before the altar at ZLC, provided that the parents—or in exceptional cases, sponsors or guardians—attend a pre-Baptism class with the pastor and schedule the baptism in advance. In an emergency, our pastor will baptize any child at home or in a health care facility upon request. Adults who have not been previously been baptized are normally baptized as part of the process of reception to full communicant membership.II. It is the policy of this congregation that parents select only LCMS Lutherans to be the sponsors of their children because part of the Baptism liturgy calls for the sponsors (“god-parents”) to swear that they will step in and raise that child in the faith confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the event the parents are unable. It would be improper to ask someone who does not believe as we do to raise a child in a way in they themselves do not believe. When those selected by the parents to have a role at the Baptism are not LCMS, we refer to them as a “witnesses,” those who could later vouch for the child’s Christian Baptism, should the need arise.​